A pioneering fusion of traditional and classical music

Welcome to the University of Plymouth's 2024/25 Musica Viva season!
Seth Lakeman portrait
Tom Griffiths
Our 2024/25 Musica Viva season celebrates composer Béla Bartók, with the help of a new classical ensemble and local folk legend Seth Lakeman. 
Tickets are now on sale for the series of five events at the University of Plymouth’s Levinsky Hall, which commemorate the 80th anniversary of Bartók’s death in 1945, as well as featuring classics from other composers, including Bach, Beethoven, Ravel and Purcell.
Director of Music, Dr Robert Taub explains what makes Bartók’s work so special, and how it connects to the world of contemporary folk music:

Bartók was one of the first composers to go into the field to explore and revel in the music of his native area – predominantly Hungary – and record it by using technology such as Edison cylinders and transcripts. This was music that had been passed down from generation to generation, orally and aurally. It had never been written down before.

“Rather than simply subsume this music into his own compositions, Bartók developed a style that was based on key musical components of the folk tradition; he stylised it into his own unique voice, thereby creating a fusion of his own, a new style of folk idiom and classical context that had never been heard before.

“His works were largely performed in European and American concerts halls, and audiences were hearing something completely new. We’re thrilled to be bringing some of those pieces to Plymouth.”
Seth Lakeman playing the violin

An Evening with Seth Lakeman

Devon-based singer, songwriter and instrumentalist Seth Lakeman joins Robert for the opening night of this season – An Evening with Seth Lakeman on Monday 7 October.
Seth will perform several of his songs, and he and Robert will discuss and illustrate folk elements that Seth incorporates into his own music, as well as showing ways that Bartók composed. Robert adds:

Just as Bartók was inspired by music of his home, Seth Lakeman has been inspired by the music of Dartmoor, Plymouth and Cornwall. Each of them has unique folk elements, reflecting the natural areas from which they arise.

“Seth brings that to the fore, and I thought it would be nice to explore how a contemporary, local artist works within the folk traditions from his home to bring that music to a wider audience. I’ll also illustrate some of the folk tunes that inspired Bartók and show how he crafted entire works that reflect his home area.”

A new classical ensemble

February’s concert features the first performance by the new Musica Viva Sinfonia, an ensemble comprised of leading London musicians – many of whom have performed at the University of Plymouth in previous seasons.
The Kleio Quartet and Takács Quartet are guest performers at other concerts, with Robert Taub himself taking on a solo recital this October.
Tickets for the new Musica Viva season are on sale now. 

Musica Viva 2024-25 

“We invite you to join us for this exciting and unique celebration of a master of the 20th century whose works withstand all tests of time and highlight the importance of 'home' as a defining stylistic concept.” 
– Robert Taub, Director of Music, The Arts Institute
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